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Duluth-based Dads & Daughters founders Joe Kelly and Nancy Gruver were "shocked" to learn Monday evening that Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis is suing them over one of the nonprofit's programs, Kelly said Tuesday. Davis filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday that accused Kelly, Dads & Daughters [DADs] president, and Gruver, DADs executive director, of stealing her concept for a program called See Jane, which was intended to "research and become involved in advocacy related to the depictions of gender in children's media," according to court documents. In 2004, Davis b

A 109-year history of a U.S. naval base in Duluth will end on Sept. 9 when the Navy Operations Support Center will close for good. The center's six full-time staff, including commanding officers, are being transferred to naval bases across the United States and the 78 reservists, who drill at the base now, will be headquartered at the Minneapolis Naval Reserve Center. The Duluth base was targeted in 2005 by the federal base closure committee, but no formal closure date had been made public until now. The closure will be marked at 2 p.m.

WORTHINGTON -- The local winds were uncharacteristically mild for the 2003 United States Windsurfing National Championships in Worthington, but the windsurfing contenders and officials were blown away by the community's enthusiasm for their sport and hospitality. Thus, Worthington has been granted a chance to impress once again -- and for the winds to gust heartily across Lake Okabena -- as the host site for the 2008 National Championships.

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Minnesota now facing two disasters, the likelihood of a special legislative session is nearly certain, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Saturday. "It would be helpful to have one, clearly focused in my view on any matters relating to the bridge and transportation issues that can be accommodated -- I'd really appreciate that," Pawlenty said in an interview. "Also we've got flood relief and flood issues in southeastern Minnesota," he said. The trigger for a special session came in the aftermath of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse Aug. 1 in Minneapolis.

WILLMAR -- Minnesota's agricultural legislative leaders want to hear from constituents about the impact of the summer's extreme weather on the agricultural economy and rural areas. The expectation is to gather the information in preparation for the potential fall special session of the Minnesota Legislature, according to Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar. The state's attention has been toward the human toll after the Aug. 1 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge and the recent flooding in southeastern Minnesota. Rightfully so, Juhnke says, but meanwhile agriculture has been quietly suffering.

Minnesota State Fair-goers may scurry up 84 steps of the DNR fire tower to get a bird's eye view of the fairgrounds Aug. 23-Sept. 3, in Falcon Heights. Once back on the ground, individuals may attend the grand opening of the DNR Division of Forestry Fire Prevention Building. The log structure is located just northwest of the main DNR building. The red pine building will house a fire tower cab, which once served at Eagle head, east of Sandstone.

Construction of a median on Highway 61 north of the Hastings bridge will be delayed until early September so an inspection of the bridge can be completed first, according to Ken Johnson, the south metro area engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). The inspection of the Hastings bridge is scheduled to start Aug. 20 and last approximately two weeks. Because of the inspection, traffic on the bridge will be reduced to one lane, Monday through Friday, from about 9 a.m.

CLONTARF -- It wasn't glamorous, but a new star in the crop fertilizer business made its debut Tuesday in a field of wheat stubble west of Clontarf. The ash-based fertilizer generated by the Fibrominn power plant was unveiled to crop input retailers by Cargill Ag Horizons and North American Fertilizer LLC. Cargill is marketing the product, called Nafgrow fertilizer, which will be produced by North American. North American is the fertilizer conditioning plant located next to the 55-megawatt Fibrominn power plant west of Benson.

Where can people visit an underground lake, take a pontoon boat ride on an open-pit mine, or sink into a 50-degree underground mine? The answer is at Minnesota State Parks. Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park in southeastern Minnesota boasts a new visitor center with displays and exhibits that provide insight into the geology and history of the cave," says Warren Netherton, cave specialist. A one-hour tour on paved level walkways reveals stalactites and stalagmites, and the underground Turquoise Lake.

MINNEAPOLIS --- A freeway bridge collapsed during bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic Wednesday night, killing at least seven people in what Minnesota's governor called "a catastrophe of historic proportion." At least 60 were hurt in the Minneapolis disaster, which sent cars and trucks into the Mississippi River. Minneapolis Mayor R.T.